You did it! You made it through 9 months of nurturing and growing the little life inside of you. Your birth story has been written and now that little bundle of joy is in your arms. Feeding the baby on the inside came pretty easy; they ate what you did. You drank your water, took your pre-natal vitamin and that was that. Now, feeding and ensuring your baby gets the proper nutrition they need to grow and thrive, takes a more intentional effort. This can leave new mamas with questions about feeding:
- Is breastmilk or formula better?
- How often should my baby be eating?
- How do I know if my baby is getting enough to eat?
- When do I introduce solids?
- How do I recognize a potential food allergy?
1. Breastmilk vs. formula:
According to the World Health Organization, breastfeeding provides the ideal first food for babies. It contains antibodies and the nutrients and minerals needed to grow and nourish their developing immune system. It’s easy to digest and can reduce allergies later in life. The WHO recommends exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months of the baby’s life. Some women may have difficulty breastfeeding and that’s okay! A fed baby is all that matters. Many new formula options on the market claim to be easily digestible and “close to breastmilk.” There are so many to choose from. Sometimes it’s a process of trial and error to see which one works best for your baby and their needs.
2. General guidelines
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- For babies 0-2 months of age; feeding should occur every 2-4 hours.
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- For babies 4-6 months of age; feeding should occur every 4-6 hours. This should amount to 4-6 feedings per day.
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- Babies aged 6-8 months are beginning to explore solid foods. It is still important for them to get about 4-6 feedings of breastmilk or formula per day. Feedings should occur every 4-6 hours.
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- Babies from 8-12 months old still need about 4-5 breastmilk/formula feedings per day.
Check out the link here for an informative chart by UC Davis Children’s Hospital on feeding babies during the first 12 months. This is a great reference point for when you may be unsure of how much they need and how often.
3. How to know baby is getting enough to eat:
Babies are amazing! They are born able to communicate with us in the most delicate of ways. Here are cues they share so we as parents know they’ve gotten enough to eat during each feeding.
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- Unlatching – falling away from the breast or bottle.
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- Turning away – baby will turn their face away from the breast or bottle.
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- Closing their mouth – baby will close their mouth.
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- Slowing down – baby’s suck pattern will slow, not as vigorous as when they first began feeding.
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- Relaxing their fists- when babies are hungry, their little fists make a ball. Once they’re full, their little hands relax and open.
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- Falling asleep.
4. When to begin solids:
It is recommended to introduce solids between 4-6 months of age. Each baby is different and just like when it comes to the amount of breastmilk or formula that they consume can vary, the same applies to solids. Some little ones may be ready to try earlier than others and that’s completely normal! Your baby will let you know when they’re ready. According to Eat Right.org, some great first foods for baby are:
6 Months
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- Well-cooked, pureed meats and beans.
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- Ground, cooked, single-grain cereal or infant cereal with breast milk or formula
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- Mashed banana or avocado
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- Cooked and pureed veggies
9 Months
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- Well-cooked, minced, or finely chopped meat, poultry, or beans
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- A variety of cooked vegetables cut into small, ½ inch pieces, such as squash and green beans
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- Sliced and quartered bananas or small pieces of other soft fruits
12 Months
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- Soft, shredded meat, poultry or fish
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- Small pieces of cooked vegetables
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- Small pieces of soft, easy-to-chew fruits
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- Mixed food dishes the family is eating in appropriately sized pieces
It is also recommended to avoid the following foods for any child under the age of 4 to reduce the risk of choking.
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- Large nuts or seeds
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- Whole hot dogs
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- Whole grapes or berries
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- Candy and gum
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- Large pieces of meat
5. How to recognize a food allergy:
Food allergies are becoming more common. Here are some signs you can watch for in your child that may determine they need more investigation by their doctor or healthcare professional:
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- Vomiting
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- Diarrhea
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- Hives
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- Swelling
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- Eczema
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- Itching or swelling of the lips, tongue, or mouth
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- Itchiness
For a full list of symptoms and signs, visit the Johns Hopkins Med Center, website.
Infant nutrition is the building block to helping your child develop a positive and healthy relationship with food that they will carry with them as they grow into adulthood. Making sure they’re nourished and thriving is important for every part of their life. Here’s to nourishing, happy, healthy babies—and remember Mom or Dad, you’ve got this!
Emily Greene
Emily Greene is the Communications and Development Coordinator at The Pregnancy Network.